Girl Up! Boston Summer Youth Summit

On Saturday June 15th, Girl Up! a campaign of the United Nations Foundation held a summit in Tufts University for girls AND boys from grades 8-12 all of which hoping to make a change. Their mission of Uniting Girls To Change The World and envisioning a world where all girls, no matter where they live, have the opportunity to become educated, healthy, safe, counted and positioned to be the next generation of leaders was rather evident through the three and a half hours. The summit provided a brief introduction by Tufts graduate Neethu Putta. It was great to listen to Ms. Putta and her background story and see a role model before my eyes that represents the goal every girl around the world wants to achieve of diminishing inequity and inequality. Following Ms. Putta’s introduction was a choice of two workshops out of many ranging from The Battle of the Sexes: Are men and women really equal? and Racial Justice & Health Equity. I personally joined the workshops Caught in a Caste: The universality of human rights and Racial justice & Health Equity. Both workshops opened my eyes to the situations around the world. I must say there are times where I think in my head “This isn’t fair, because I am a girl I cannot do this;” however, in other parts in the world it is much harder. In America, we have the privilege of trying our hardest and reaching our full potential. Though it is hard, it is much harder and even has a not likely chance of happening in other countries in the world. I also learned how racial injustice can be planted on us, not exactly our fault why we live on but the people around us are able to keep it going, an issue not only girls but everyone much change and stop.

Overall, the Girl Up! summit helped me learn that girls can make a change. It may not be possible with just one person but if we all come together, we can shape this world with equality and better advantages for those who are not able to speak up and share the voice of opinions. We are the new generation and we can make a change for the next. GIRL POWER!!